 Lighthouse of the blind
Chinnathambi
 'Adaikalam', a home for the visually-impaired in Ganga
Nagar, Sevvapettai, Tiruvallur district, is the brainchild of Chinnathambi. Originally he belonged to Pudupatti in Kambam and lost his sight when he was just one-year-old. His parents and brothers discouraged him when he wanted to join a
school.
They teased him asking how a blind boy could read and write. Though he was upset over their behaviour, Chinnathambi resolved to go to school. He studied in the government school at Sivagangai up to class-5.
As there was no support and encouragement at home, he passed class-10 through a free foundation course. It was unfortunate that Chinnathambi did not get parental love because they thought of him as a burden. So, he was forced to leave the house.
He suffered a lot as he was left literally on the streets. It was his fortune that he came into contact with a Christian mission which gives asylum to destitutes and orphans. Sivanammal, a blind woman from Tirumangalam, near
Madurai, was asked whether she could be a good companion to the blind man who was sent out of his house. She accepted and both Sivanammal and Chinnathambi were married legally by the Christian priest in Madurai in 1988.
They worked for some time in the Film Institute in
Ooty. As the institute changed hands, they lost their job.
They tried to get back the lost job in vain, spending all the little money they had saved, for this purpose. Finally, they came to Chennai is search of some employment in 1995 with their only daughter. Their plight was horrible. They landed in
Saidapet with nobody to back them.
Both of them were blind and had an additional burden - their child. For one week they lived under a tree. Sivanammal knew some Christian prayer songs and, as a last resort, she sang to God to redeem them from misery not knowing that
music was going to help them to have at least one meal a day.
But the people who passed by thought that she was singing for alms and threw some coins at her. They pitied the blind couple who had a child too. Somebody even advised her that instead of singing under a
tree, she could earn more money if she sang in a running train.
Though they hated begging and not attempted it so far, there was no other way for them. Sivanammal and Chinnathambi started their journey with music in the electric trains from
Tambaram to Chennai Beach. As they knew only
devotional songs, they rendered them with pathos.
Even in their sad condition, they helped a blind boy who was begging on the pavement in Saidapet. He died shortly because of ill-health. They felt very bad for the blind boy whom they could not see and no one came forward to bury the poor blind boy who died in the station. The couple pleaded with the public and with great difficulty performed the last rites. This incident affected them deeply. They wanted to do something to improve the condition of blind people around them. Though they were helpless and penniless, if by the grace of God they could improve their financial position, they resolved to do something for the betterment of the blind.
They reduced their expenses and saved some money from their daily earnings. As they lived under the tree with minimum expenses, they were able to save a bit. As the land would be available at a cheaper rate in the rural areas they chose to buy a bit of land out of their savings that accumulated in the post office and banks.
After the purchase of land, they applied for a bank loan and succeeded in getting Rs 2.5 lakh to build a home for the blind. The construction had cost them heavily. As both of them were blind, the masons and carpenters cheated them.
They had no mercy on the blind couple who had determined to pursue their project with their meagre savings and bank loan or a conscience not to cheat the two who had started the construction for a good cause. It resulted in changing the workers often and loss of money.
The couple can never forget the loss and misery they had faced in this regard. With a strong will, the ambitious couple founded 'Adaikalam', a home for the blind. Blind people from
Trichy, Thanjavur,
Coimbatore, Salem, Madurai and other places have become members of the organisation.
They helped Chinnathambi collect statistical data of the blind in their area. As soon as they inaugurated the home, 30 blind children joined 'Adaikalam'. They were admitted in nearby schools. Some children are in boarding shools and come to 'Adaikalam' for the weekends.
Even to this day the couple sing on trains and in the evening, when they return to 'Adaikalam', buy fruits and vegetables for the inmates. They want good people to come forward to help them. They dream about the empowerment of the blind.
 The mind is willing to do greater things but the means are scanty. Chinnathambi and Sivanammal want to give education to the destitute blinds and train them in some occupation like making soap, candle, re-wiring chairs and cots, etc., so that they would have a regular income.
They do no stop with that because they feel that economic stability is for satisfying the material needs, but what is essential is to make one realise the values of life. Everyone trained in 'Adaikalam' should have a flawless heart and mind though their body is defective.
They should respect others' feelings and be good human beings. Though the ambition may seem pretty lofty, they are hopeful of achieving it. When it is possible for two destitute blinds to start a home for the blind, though they have no regular income, they are sure that God would be with them to help them realise their dream in
life.
Their 10-year-old daughter, Parimala, with good eyesight, is supportive of her parents. When asked what she wanted to become in life, the class-5 girl thoughtfully said though many children of her age dream of becoming doctors, engineers or software experts, she feels that her primary duty is to take care of her blind parents till their end and assist them in their endeavours.
What is special about Adaikalam is the secular nature with which the couple run the home. Though they are Hindus, they are fond of the teachings of Jesus. The Christian songs they sang gave them livelihood in the initial stages.
They worship Hindu gods, but willingly admit children belonging to any religion into their home and allow them to worship their deities but train them to be kind to everyone. They have realised the enmity created by communal feelings and want the inmates of 'Adaikalam' to be different.
The lofty ideals of the blind couple are to be appreciated and encouraged. There are innumerable philanthraphers who could turn their attention to this infant organisation and grant some funds so that the dreams of Chinnathambi and Sivanammal could be realised.
Shanmugam can be contacted
@:
No: 54 Kamaraj Road,
Ramakrishna Nagar,
Alwar Thirunagar,
Chennai- 600 087.
Phone: 248 60 221
E-mail: shanmugam@azagi.com
(Extracted
from the book 'Hope is Life')
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